Four Bulldogs into semis at state wrestling

POCATELLO — Sandpoint wrestling head coach Mike Randles proved prophetic at the 4A Region 1 championships when he said this about the wrestlers he was taking to state: “Our studs are studs.”

Casey Randles (170), Tyler Presser (160), Jake Williams (195) and Tyler Brown (220) each won both of their matches in convincing fashion on Friday, earning a berth in the semis after the first day of the 4A state wrestling tournament at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

Randles (34-4) pinned his first opponent in 2:45, followed by a 42 second pin against his Canyon Ridge opponent, which put him into the semis, which will be held today.  

Presser (33-7), like Randles a No. 1 seed in his bracket, had the toughest route of any of the four Bulldogs into the semis, earning a 10-6 win over Minico in the first round and a 7-5 win over a Lakeland opponent in the second round.

Williams (27-8), the No. 2 seed at 195 pounds, pinned his first round opponent in 2:41 and followed that with a 1:30 pin over Bishop Kelly to earn his spot in the semis.

All three aforementioned wrestlers were expected to make the semis, while Brown (25-9) was one of the wrestlers Randles felt might out-wrestle their seed, earning two first period pins to punch his ticket into today’s semis.

Tanner McNelley (145) scored a first period pin, then was pinned in the first period in the second round, before bouncing back to win in consolation and remain in the hunt for a place today. Mahonri Hunsaker (152) won a 16-5 major decision in the first round, followed by a 2-0 loss to the same Lakeland opponent that Hunsaker beat 7-5 at districts, before bouncing back to  score a first period pin and remain alive in consolation.

Scout Nash (120), Hyrum Hunsaker (138) and Zach Alamillo (220) each won once and lost twice, and Alex O’Shea (160) and Justin Hobson (285) each lost twice for the Bulldogs.